Center for Learning Resources Recognized for Commitment to Supporting Student Success

The Center for Learning Resources (CLR) is the heart of academic support at the University of New Haven, and now it has renewed credentials that illustrate its impact. Recently recertified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), the CLR has once again demonstrated its leadership in tutoring best practices, staff training, and student support.

“Being certified by the CRLA means our tutors are recognized for having high standards and being up to date on best practices,” said Jeffrey Hunt, Assistant Director of the CLR. “Going through this training means that our tutors are well prepared for their positions.”

The CRLA’s International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) is considered the gold standard in the field. The recertification process is extensive, requiring submission of detailed documentation on training programs, student engagement data, tutoring hours, and program innovations.

“It took about nine months to gather and submit everything,” said Hunt. “In particular, they wanted to know what we had done that was new from the last time we were certified. One of the biggest things we added was guidelines around using AI.”

All CLR tutors begin with Level I CRLA training through ITTPC, which includes five hours of asynchronous online modules and five hours of in-person workshops.

“The online portion has quizzes, discussion boards, and multimodal content,” said Hunt. “We work hard to time it so it takes five hours, but some tutors really get into it and go above and beyond.”

The in-person component is a hands-on, social experience held in the CLR itself, often involving collaboration with other campus offices. “In early October, we open the CLR, bring in guests from across campus, and spend time building on what tutors learned online,” said Hunt. “There are also check-ins for the rest of the semester, and discussions in small groups.”

Most student tutors continue on to Level II training in the spring, once they’ve surpassed the minimum tutoring hours. This year, President Frederiksen spoke at the kickoff event, which also featured representatives from the Dean of Students office, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Accessibility Resources Center (ARC), and Military and Veterans Affairs.

“We want our tutors to be good resources for students on campus, and to help those students build bridges and connections,” Hunt said.

With more than 10,000 student visits per year, the CLR supports nearly 40% of the University’s student body. It serves undergraduate and graduate students, offering tutoring in everything from chemistry to coding to statistics.

That high volume includes students attending workshops, meeting with Learning Assistants embedded in STEM courses, or scheduling appointments with the CLR’s professional tutors, many of whom hold a Ph.D. or an advanced degree.

“Students could go on YouTube or use a different source, but why not ask a peer tutor who went through the course themselves a semester or a year ago?” said Hunt. “It can only help improve academic performance and help people grow as scholars and future professionals.”

The demand is evolving. More students are seeking help with programming languages such as Python and R, as well as statistical software. And Hunt sees a growing number of students using the CLR not just for academic support, but to build connections with peers.

“We can be a great place where students can meet and get help together with students in the same courses and sections,” he said. “And, of course, students should also know that our staff are certified with the largest and most trusted tutoring and coaching organization, so they’re in good hands.”

As the largest student employer on campus—currently supporting about 120 student workers and professional staff—the CLR also plays a major role in workforce development. Tutors gain professional experience, mentoring skills, and nationally recognized credentials they can list on their resumes and LinkedIn profiles.

“They take those skills with them,” said Hunt.

The CLR also collaborates with academic departments across campus, such as engineering and biology, to offer CRLA-certified training for their TAs and Peer Assistants.

At its core, Hunt hopes more students see the CLR as a go-to academic hub. It is open six days a week and easily accessible through Navigate.

“This isn’t high school,” Hunt said. “College should be hard. Struggling means you’re growing. And growing means going to office hours, working in study groups, and going to get assistance from campus resources.”